Three new species of the genus Zosime (Copepoda: Harpacticoida: Zosimeidae) from South Korea

Abstract

Three new harpacticoid copepod species belonging to the genus Zosime Boeck, 1873 are discovered in sublittoral habitats from the coast of southern sea of Korea. They all belong to the typica-group characterized by morphological features of the setation of the mandibular exopod, outer spines on exopodal segments of the first leg, the exopod of fifth leg and the length/width ratio of caudal rami. Three new species are very similar to Z. bathyalis Por, 1967 reported from Elat, Israel, by the presence of only two outer spines of the third exopodal segment in second to fourth swimming legs, which feature is unique in the genus, compared with three outer spines on corresponding segments in other congeners of Zosime. However, three new species and Z. bathyalis can be distinguished each other by body ornamentation, the segmentation of female antennule, the setations of distal endopodal segment on second to fourth legs, and the endopodal lobe on fifth legs. The short systematic account, detailed illustrations and photographs of three new Zosime species are provided in the present study.the setation of the mandibular exopod, outer spines on exopodal segments of the first leg, the exopod of fifth leg and the length/width ratio of caudal rami. Three new species are very similar to Z. bathyalis Por, 1967 reported from Elat, Israel, by the presence of only two outer spines of the third exopodal segment in second to fourth swimming legs, which feature is unique in the genus, compared with three outer spines on corresponding segments in other congeners of Zosime. However, three new species and Z. bathyalis can be distinguished each other by body ornamentation, the segmentation of female antennule, the setations of distal endopodal segment on second to fourth legs, and the endopodal lobe on fifth legs. The short systematic account, detailed illustrations and photographs of three new Zosime species are provided in the present study.